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Letter: The unused public facilities
The other day, I had an engagement with a friend of mine to watch a movie at one of the malls situated at Jl
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he other day, I had an engagement with a friend of mine to watch a movie at one of the malls situated at Jl. Thamrin area. I took a bus to go there, and I found it was a pleasant trip from the point of view that I did not need to drive through Jakarta’s heavy traffic on a Friday evening. The bus, however, was not in good condition at all.
The transportation problem in Jakarta has hit a critical point. During peak hour, the roads in Jakarta are extremely crowded, and the traffic jams have become a part of the usual routine of the people in Jakarta.
Traffic jams are inevitable, and it is simply because there are too many cars on the roads.
Once, I passed a TransJakarta buslane, the one situated on Jl. Gatot Subroto. I saw the unused bus stops, which were built a while ago now, but they don’t even operate. I thought: Why did they build them if they don’t even use them? They used glass and steel as material.
The material and the rectangular shape certainly give a futuristic and modern look. Although there are some better executions that could be made on the designs, but it certainly offers a new image for the transportation system, especially in Jakarta. But it’s being wasted; the unused space, the money used, and the waste of opportunities.
The opportunity for better use of design for the people of Jakarta have been ruined. The bus stops are getting worse every day. No one is using them, and there is no maintenance. They haven’t even been used, and I’m sure some need to be repaired.
The chaotic environment caused by Jakarta’s traffic is prompting the public to crave for a better solution for the transportation system.
To have the bus stops only as a display on the streets is not right. The government should have planned the construction carefully, and consideredc functionality in its designs.
Maybe it’s just me being cynical, but we do need more public spaces and facilities that are not only aesthetic. It’s time for action that we use architecture and planning to reach out to the public, so not only people in their luxury cars — BMW and Mercedes Benz enjoy roads.
If only the unused bus stops could have been transformed into integrated public facilities such as pedestrian walks and bicycle routes, it would have definitely provided better quality services.
I was still sitting in the bus when my rambling thoughts went wild, searching for better solutions, better designs that can be used by the public, and only to be awakened by the horn of a nearby car that passed by.
For some reason, I could not answer or choose not to answer; why should we spend so much money on something that the public can’t use?
While there are other issues too, which are more important, that need better design and planning such as flood problems during rainy season, or how to create better public spaces for public markets and others.
In my opinion, there’s a few standard questions that need answering of everyone involved in the design process, especially of a big public facilities project. It needs to consider many things, and if we can’t answers or find the solution to basic questions such as how does the public use the facilities, then why do we bother to continue the process, because it’s not going to work properly anyway.
Just like my first year students asked about using the computer for their designs, I simply answered; before we walk, we crawl first. A good result, and in this case, a good design for the public is not easy to achieve.
A lot of factors are involved, and we might not reach the full potential or might even fail on the designs; just like when we learn to walk, we might fall.
Therefore, the design process should go through every detailed consideration and selection, so the potential and intention of the design can be achieved.
Albertus Galih Prawata
Jakarta
